Airbox drain syphon tube valve

Abstract

A system for controlling airflow through a syphon tube associated with a vehicle cowl airbox disposed within an engine compartment associated with a vehicle may include a drain valve disposed on one of a first open end and a second open end associated with a hollow tubular portion of the syphon tube. The drain valve may include a connecting portion configured to be received by a portion of a first passageway defined by a divider extending between the first open end and the second open end. The drain valve may further include a flap attached to the connecting portion, the flap configured to, in response to the vehicle cowl airbox being drained through a second passageway defined by the divider, allow air to flow through the first passageway and, in response to a negative pressure within the vehicle cowl airbox, prevent air from being drawn into the syphon tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for controlling airflow through a syphon tube associated with a vehicle cowl airbox disposed within an engine compartment associated with a vehicle, comprising:
 a drain valve disposed on one of a first open end and a second open end associated with a hollow tubular portion of the syphon tube, the drain valve comprising:
 a connecting portion configured to be received by a portion of a first passageway defined by a divider extending between the first open end and the second open end, wherein the connecting portion extends from a flap into the portion of the first passageway and engages at least a portion of the first passageway, and wherein the connecting portion includes a bottom surface having a profile that allows air to flow through the first passageway; and 
 the flap, in response to the vehicle cowl airbox being drained through a second passageway defined by the divider, allows air to flow through the first passageway and, in response to a negative pressure within the vehicle cowl airbox, prevents air from being drawn into the syphon tube. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion includes an exterior profile corresponding to an interior profile associated with the first passageway. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the profile of the connecting portion includes a curved profile. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion includes a hinge disposed on the connecting portion and wherein the flap is attached to the hinge on an attachment point disposed on a flat surface of the flap. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment point is configured to facilitate movement of the flap to allow the vehicle cowl airbox to be drained through the second passageway and to allow air to flow through the first passageway. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flap is configured to seal against the syphon tube in response to the negative pressure within the vehicle cowl airbox. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the negative pressure within the vehicle cowl airbox is generated by an HVAC system associated with the vehicle. 
     
     
       8. A drain valve, comprising:
 a connecting portion configured to be received by a portion of a first passageway associated with a drain, the connecting portion having an exterior profile corresponding to an interior profile associated with the first passageway, wherein the connecting portion extends from a flap into the portion of the first passageway and engages at least a portion of the first passageway, and wherein the connecting portion includes a bottom surface having a profile that allows air to flow through the first passageway; and 
 the flap being attached to a hinge disposed on the connecting portion, the flap configured to pivot on the hinge to allow air to flow through the first passageway in response to fluid flowing through a second passageway associated with the drain and to prevent air from being drawn into the first passageway and the second passageway in response to a negative pressure within at least one of the first passageway and the second passageway. 
 
     
     
       9. The drain valve of  claim 8 , wherein the profile of the connecting portion includes a curved profile. 
     
     
       10. The drain valve of  claim 8 , wherein the flap is configured to seal a first opening associated with the first passageway and a second opening associated with the second passageway in response to the negative pressure. 
     
     
       11. The drain valve of  claim 8 , wherein the negative pressure is generated by an HVAC system associated with first passageway and the second passageway. 
     
     
       12. The drain valve of  claim 8 , wherein the flap is attached to the hinge on an attachment point disposed on a flat surface of the flap. 
     
     
       13. The drain valve of  claim 12 , wherein the attachment point is configured to facilitate movement of the flap to allow fluid to drain through the second passageway and to allow air to flow through the first passageway. 
     
     
       14. A system for controlling airflow through a vehicle cowl airbox disposed within an engine compartment associated with a vehicle, comprising:
 a drain disposed on the vehicle cowl airbox, the drain being defined by a first passageway and a second passageway; 
 a drain valve disposed on one of a first open end and a second open end associated with the drain, the drain valve comprising:
 a connecting portion configured to be received by a portion of the first passageway, wherein the connecting portion extends from a flap into the portion of the first passageway and engages at least a portion of the first passageway, and wherein the connecting portion includes a bottom surface having a profile that allows air to flow through the first passageway; and 
 the flap, in response to the vehicle cowl airbox being drained through the second passageway, allows air to flow through the first passageway and, in response to a negative pressure within the vehicle cowl airbox, prevents air from being drawn into the first passageway and the second passageway. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the connecting portion includes an exterior profile corresponding to an interior profile associated with the first passageway. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the profile of the connecting portion includes a curved profile. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the connecting portion includes a hinge disposed on the connecting portion and wherein the flap is attached to the hinge on an attachment point disposed on a flat surface of the flap. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the attachment point is configured to facilitate movement of the flap to allow the vehicle cowl airbox to be drained through the second passageway and to allow air to flow through the first passageway. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the flap is configured to seal against the one of the first open end and the second open end in response to the negative pressure within the vehicle cowl airbox. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the negative pressure within the vehicle cowl airbox is generated by an HVAC system associated with the vehicle.